Protector tray



Dec. 13-, 1938. J. B. KNIGHT, -SR

PROTECTOR TRAY Filed Jan. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 2?. 411/327L9 1.3g

Attorneys" Dec. 13, 1938.

J. B. KNIGHT, SR

PROTECTOR TRAY Filed Jan. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aiiorqeyr PatentedDec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to means for protecting combs and pressing ironssuch as are used in the removing of kinks from the hair particularlyfrom the hair of members of the African race.

The invention consists in the provision of a tray particularly designedfor accommodating combs, pressing irons, and similar hair-dressingarticles, and for supporting such articles on a stove in a manner toprotect the articles when being heated.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing one form of protector tray, thesame being illustrated as mounted on a stove in accordance with thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the tray in a position reverse to thatshown in Figure 1 and with parts broken away and shown in section,

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a slightly modified form of tray, and

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but with the tray reversed.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that inaccordance with the present invention the protector tray indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 5 is formed from a single sheet ofmetal or other suitable material shaped and dimensioned to provide asshown in Figures 1 and 2 a frame having sides 6 and an end 1, andsupporting a top plate 8 that is bent medially to provide two elongatedtroughs 9 and I0 respectively, the troughs being of a length and depthto accommodate the elements to be heated. The troughs, as shown, arespaced laterally relative to one another and to the frame 5 to insurethorough heating of the articles within the troughs.

The end i of the frame is integral with one side 6 and is provided withan inwardly directed flange H through the medium of which and a rivet orother fastening means l2 said end member l is positively secured to theotherside 6 of the frame.

The sides 6 at the lower edges thereof are provided with depending lugsl3 that serve to engage the frame part of a top M of a suitable stove l5, which latter in the present instance is shown as being in the form ofa kerosene stove, and as is generally used in the art for heating suchelements as anti-kink combs and hair pressers.

The lugs l3 engaging the frame M in the manner clearly shown in Figure 1will serve to retain the tray 5 in position on the top of the stove andagainst accidental displacement.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 the trough 9 issubstantially V-shaped in end elevation and is thereby particularlyadapted for accommodating anti-kink combs such as suggested by brokenlines in Figure l and indicated by the reference numeral [5, while thetrough I!) is shallower than the trough 9 and is substantially U-shapedor rectangular in end elevation and is particularly designed toaccommodate a hair presser, in a manner shown in Figure 1, the presserbeing therein indicated by broken lines and by the reference numeral I1.

It will also be seen that in using the device the end member I of theframe, closing one end of the frame, will protect the hands of theoperator when placing or removing the articles I6, I! against cominginto direct contact with the flames of the stove [5, the end member 7forming as it were a shield, and as shown in Figure 1 when using thedevice the articles should be placed in the respective troughs 9 and Itso that the handle portions thereof extend therefrom at the end 1 of thetray.

The tray shown in Figures 3 and 4 is particularly designed for combsonly, and differs, in construction, from the tray shown in Figure 1 and2, only in that the troughs thereof, indicated by the reference numerals9a, are identical in shape, the adjacent walls of the troughs, as shownin Figure 4, and indicated by the reference numeral 18, beingsubstantially perpendicular while the outer walls [9 are disposed at aslight incline t0 the perpendicular and are connected with the walls I8by slightly curved bottom walls 20. Consequently the shape of thetroughs 9a conform substantially to the shape of the head of theantikink combs.

Also, in this second form of tray 5', the end -member or shield la issubstantially of the same height as the side members 6a thussubstantially closing one end of the troughs 9a. Said frame end orshield la as shown is provided in the portions thereof opposite thetroughs 9a with notches 2| provided in the upper edge thereof toaccommodate the shank portions of the combs I6 as clearly shown.

Other than in the features herein noted trays 5 and 5a are identical asis obvious from an inspection of the drawings.

When heating anti-kink or straightening combs, as at present, over theflame of a kerosene lamp style stove, considerable soot collects on thecombs and between the teeth thereof, and as the combs are hot this sootcannot be cleaned out without said combs getting too cold for properuse. Therefore, the trade has used the combs when dirty or full of soot,merely wiping a cloth over said combs before using, which did not removethe soot from between the teeth at all, so that when straightening ofthe hair was completed said hair had to be washed to remove the soot.Thus, in many cases, washing of the hair would have a tendency to returnsaid hair to its natural kinky stage, causing, to some extent, loss ofthe work done in straightening out the kinks. My invention protects thecombs from all smoke and soot, also protects the handles of the combsfrom burning or getting too hot, while at the same time it heats thecombs substantially as quickly as when they are placed directly over theflame. It also eliminates the danger of melting the teeth of the combsas some points where the direct flame is hotter than at others, for inthis tray or protector the heat is distributed more evenly to all partsof the combs in said tray. So, by preventing the soot from coming incontact with the teeth of the comb, time is saved and better work isdone with less trouble, and a clean sanitary condition is obtained forthe hair.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a tray which may be readilymounted on a suitable stove and which will accommodate in a practicaland efiicient manner such hairdressing tools as anti-kink combs, hairpressers and the like in a manner to hold these articles in position toinsure a thorough heating of the same and at the same time to protectthe hands of the operator against being injured by burns or heat fromthe flame of the stove.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility,and advantages of an invention of this character will be had without amore detailed description.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new is:

An article heating attachment for stoves formed from a single sheet ofmetal and including a top having spaced, parallel troughs extendinglongitudinally therein for the reception of articles to be heated, sidewalls depending from the longitudinal edges of said top and engageablewith a stove for supporting said top in elevated position thereon, lugsdepending from said side walls and engageable with the stove forsecuring the attachment against horizontal movement on said stove, andan end wall integral with one of the side walls and extendingtransversely across the troughs at one end and connected to the other ofsaid side walls, said end Wall having notches in its upper edgecommunicating with the troughs for the reception of the articles, theother end of the attachment being open.

JOHN B. KNIGHT, SR.

